Dam Helicopters Inc. takes to the sky with the last new BO105 LS

01 May 2009

Mr. Duncan Wassick, President and CEO of Dam Helicopters Inc. officially ended the successful BO105 program with the historical delivery of the last new BO105 LS.

Fort Erie, ON – “The delivery of this helicopter to Dam Helicopters is of significant importance to our company; it is the last delivery of a new BO105 LS”, said Marie-Agnès Vève, president and CEO of Eurocopter Canada. “This aircraft, for which Canada holds the type certificate, is from one of the most successful light twin engine helicopter programs of all times and we are proud to have the last of this aircraft type delivered to a Canadian customer”.

Initially developed in the mid-1960s by Bölkow Engineering of Ottobrunn near Munich, Germany, the BO105, a light twin engine, multi-purpose utility helicopter, performed its maiden flight in 1967 and was granted Canadian certification in 1973. Production began under Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), which later became a part of Eurocopter. Eurocopter continued to produce the BO105 until 2001. The powerful LS model was introduced to the market in 1984 and received Canadian certification in 1987.

Created in 2004 and based in Castlegar and Nelson, B.C., Dam Helicopters Inc. performs a wide range of missions including light utility work, fire fighting, sight seeing tours and Air Ambulance. The aircraft is destined for work in the south east region of British Columbia.

“When we made the decision to purchase a new aircraft, the BO105 LS was attractive due to the versatility, level of comfort, added safety and reliability offered by the twin engine aircraft”, said Duncan Wassick, president and CEO of Dam Helicopters Inc. “We perform EMS missions, serving the critical care unit of Castlegar, B.C. from remote areas. The BO105 will allow a quick switch from a utility to an EMS configuration with the rear doors providing easy access for patients”.

Today, 1008 BO105’s (44 BO105 LS) are still in service and have accumulated over 7,067,955 flying hours (204,439 for the LS variant). A total of 1,407 BO105’s have been built and delivered to 190 customers in 52 countries, making this program a remarkable success story.

The BO105 has been replaced in the Eurocopter product line by the EC135, also a light twin engine helicopter featuring the latest technology. This 6/7 passenger helicopter is now one of Eurocopter’s most popular aircraft. The EC135 offers outstanding manoeuvrability, visibility and safety while keeping operational costs low.

About Eurocopter

Eurocopter Canada Limited (www.eurocopter.ca) is a subsidiary of Eurocopter. Eurocopter Canada – based in Fort Erie, Ontario – has a customer support network that spans the entire country. Eurocopter Canada celebrates 2009 as its 25th anniversary year. Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 15,600 people. In 2008, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.5 billion Euros, orders for 715 new helicopters, and a 53 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 18 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 10,000 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in more than 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.